Firing mechanism.



No. 772,245. OCT. 11, 1904.

. PATBNTED J. F. MEIGS 6; S. A. S. HAMMAR. FIRIN ECHANISM. APPLIOATI FILED 1330.29, 1902.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEEN-SHEET 1 15 M 13 3 50 F\ J6 TA: N C

attozn up No. 772,245. PATBNTED 001". 11, 1904.

A J. F. MEIGS & s. A. s. HAMMAR.

FIRING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 29. 1902.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNTTEE STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OEETEE.

JOHN F. MEIGS AND SIGARD A. S. HAMMAR, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYL VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,245, dated October 11, 1904.

Application filed December 29, 1902. Serial No. 137,014. (No model.)

To all whmn if puny concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN F. lVIEIGS, a citizen of-the United States, and SIGARD A. S.

' HAMMAR, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the firing mechanism of guns; and it consists in constructing the same to secure the discharge of the primer either by electricity or frictionally and in details of construction fully set forth hereinafter, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the breech of a gun, illustrating our improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the guide-block. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the carriage for the firing-gear. Fig. 5 is a plan of the friction firing-rod. Fig. 6 is an end view of the friction firingrod, and Fig. 7 is a detail.

The breech-block B is carried by the swinging carrier A, as usual, and the spindle O of the obturator extends into and is swiveled to a guide-block D, provided with a socket for the primer, at one side of which is pivoted an extractor I. The firing-gear is supported by a slide F, which slides on the guide-block and constitutes a vent-cover to cover and uncover the primer-socket. This slide is moved on the rotation of the breech-block through the medium of a vertically-sliding block K, as fully set forth in our application for Letters Patent Serial No. 136,851 and not necessary to be here described, or it may be op- 4 erated by any other suitable means. The slide F is shown in two parts a b, dovetailed together for convenience of manufacture; but the slide may be in one piece.

In the construction shown the primer is to exploded frictionally by drawing out a wire, and a firing-rod is therefore used instead of a firing-pin operating by percussion. The

firing-rod N is in the form of a sleeve or holand engage the usual button thereof.

low rod sliding in a casing of the slide and impelled inward by a coiled spring 8, bearing on a shoulder of the rod and also on a shoulder of the casing. The slide has a terminal slot 3, through which the wire of the primer can project backward, and the end of the firing-rod is constructed to receive the wire As shown, the rod has two lugs 5 5, Figs. 5 and 6, on opposite sides of a slot 6, so that the wire projects back from the primer through the slot 3 in the slide and the slot 6 in the rod, with the head back of the lugs 5 5. The rod can slide in the slide, but is guided and prevented from turning by wings 7 7, entering guide-slots 4 4 in the sides of the casing 50. These wings project through the slots 4 4 and extend outside the casing. From the guideblock D project two flanges 11 11, each with an inwardly-projecting rib 2, in such position that when the'slide F moves down the wings 7 will pass in front of the ribs 2, which thus prevent the firing-rod from being drawn outward, except when theparts are in firing position.

The electric firing-rod M is insulated from the hollow firing-rod N by insulating material 18, suitably arranged, has a head 1 1, with beveled faces, and is threaded at the rear end to receive a retaining-nut 15, between which and a cap-nut 16 may be secured the end of the electric conductor X. The cap-nut 16 has an eye 17 to receive the lanyard-hook. The friction firing-rod N is held between the electric firing-head 14 of the electric firing-rod M and the cap-nut 16, so that the two rods move as one piece. The face s of the head of the rod M is inclined, so that when the button is inclined by the bending of the wire, which occurs in bringing the slide or vent-cover into position, the entire face of the button will meet that of the head, insuring a greater electric contact-surface. 4

As the slide or vent-cover is drawn away from the primer-hole in opening the mechanism the wings 7 on the firing-rod N pass in front of the ribs 2 2, locking the friction firing-rod to the guide-block, so that the rod cannot be retracted, as before described, and at the same time the electric firing-rod is carried out of contact with the primer-button.

After the primer-head is wholly uncovered the extractor throws out the primer or primercasing.

In closing the mechanism as the slide or ventcover is being carried to its firing position the electric contact is made against the button of the primer slightly before the completion of the motion, the electric firing-head slightly bending the primer-wire and being carried above the line of the wire in order to assure contact. At the same time the wings of the friction firing-rod engage the primer-button, the primer-wire being passed between the wings, and as the final action of closing the mechanism the wings on the friction firingrod are carried above the ribs 2, allowing the firing-rod to be retracted.

To fire the gun frictionally, a lanyard is fitted into the eye 17 of the firing-rod M and is pulled, the firing-rods being carried with it, compressing the firing-sprin g 8, and the wings of the friction firing-rod by pulling the primerbutton to the rear ignite the primer. As the firing-rod N is drawn back the wings 7 7 pass over the tops of the ribs 2 2, which thus prevent the descent of the slide or vent-cover and lock the same to the guide-block while the firing-rods are retracted, and on releasing the lanyard the pressure of the firingspring causes the firing-rod to go forward, the wings '77 assuming their normal position forward of the ribs 2.

To fire the gun electrically, it is necessary only to complete the electric circuit, including the rod M, while the head of the latter is in contact with the button.

By extending the boss or rear end of the obturator-spindle into the guide-block the joint in the primer-socket is thrown to the point 01, Fig. 1, toward the rear of the primercasing and at the end of the boss and where the walls of the casing are the thickest and best able to resist the strain. If the joint is forward, as usual, and when the casing is thin, the casing is apt to be broken on the explosion of the charge. By the arrangement shown it is not necessary to carry the obturator-spindle wholly to the rear of the guideblock, as in many prior constructions.

Without limiting ourselves to the construction shown, we claim- 1. The combination in a firing mechanism, of a hollow firing-rod adapted to engage the friction-wire of a primer, and an insulated firing-rod within the hollow firing-rod, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a firing mechanism, of a hollow firing-rod provided with separated wings and adapted to engage the friction-wire of a primer, and an insulated firing-rod within the hollow firing-rod, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in'a firing mechanism, of a hollow firing-rod adapted to engage the friction-wire of a primer, an insulated firingrod within the hollow firing-rod, and a spring for moving the rods forward, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, of a guide-block, a slide sliding thereon and carrying a sliding firing-rod and engaging means to prevent the movement of the slide when the firing-rod is drawn back and for preventing the drawing back of the rod when the slide is not in firing position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the breech-block, obturator-spindle and guide-block, of a slide sliding on said guide-block, a firing-rod sliding longitudinally on said slide and provided with lugs adapted to slots in the slide, and parallel ribs supported by the guide-block in position with their ends below the lugs when the firing-rod is drawn back, and at the rear of the lugs, except when the firing-rod is in firing position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the slide, of a hollow firing-rod slidable thereon and having separated wings for engaging the button of a primer, and an insulated firing-rod within the hollow rod and having a head with an inclined face 3, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the slide, of a hollow firing-rod having means for engaging the friction-wire of a primer, and a second firingrod insulated within the hollow rod and adapted to transmit an electric current to the primer, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the guide-block and the obturator-spindle extended into the guidebloek to carry the joint in the primer-socket to the rear, the said socket being partly in the guide-block and partly in the obturatorspindle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination with the breech-block, of an obturator-spindle, a guide-block,aslide movable vertically thereon, a firing-rod slidable in the slide, means to lock the firing-rod against backward movement when the slide is not in firing position and to prevent the movement of the slide when the firing-rod is drawn back, a sliding block between the slide and the breech-block, and means for detachably locking together the slide and sliding block, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with thebreeclrblock, 1

of an obturator-spindle, a guide-block, a slide movable thereon and composed of two parts connected by a dovetail joint, a firing-rod slidable in the upper part of the slide, means to lock the firing-rod against movement when the slide is out of firing position, and to prevent the movement of the slide when the firing-rod is drawn back, a sliding block connecting the slide and the breech-block, and means for detachably connecting together the slide and sliding block, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with the breech-block, obturator-spindle, and guide-block, of a slide movable on the guide-block, a friction firingrod, an electric firing-rod within and insulated therefrom, and both rods slidable in said slide, and means for connecting the electric firing-rod in an electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with the breech-block, obturator-spindle, and guide-block, of a slide movable on the guide-block, a hollow firingrod adapted to engage the friction-wire of a primer, an electric firing-rod within said hollow rod and insulated therefrom, both rods being slidable in said slide, and means for connecting the electric firing-rod in an electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with the breech-block, obturator-spindle, and guide-block, of a slide movable on the guide-block, a hollow firingrod provided with separated wings adapted to engage the friction-wire of a primer, an electric firing-rod within said hollow rod and insulated therefrom, and means for connecting the electric firing-rod in an electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

14c. The combination with the breech-block, obturator-spindle, and guide-block, of a slide movable on the guide-block, a friction firingrod slidable in said slide, an electric firingrod within the friction firing-rod and insuobturator-spindle, and guide-block, of a slide movable on the guide-block and having a casing, a firing-rod slidable in the casing, an intermediate spring, means to lock the firingrod against movement when the slide is not in firing position, and to prevent the movement of slide when the firing-rod is drawn back, and means to move the slide as the breech-block is turned, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses JOHN F. MEIGS. SIGARD A. S. HAMMAR.

Witnesses:

LEIGHTON N. D. MIXSELL, WM. L. ACHENBACH. 

